Study: Does Green Tea Protect Against Alzheimer's?

SadaNews - Researchers found that a natural compound found in green tea acts as a powerful brain cleanser when combined with a common vitamin, which reduced the accumulation of waste associated with brain diseases like Alzheimer’s.

A report published by Science Alert, reviewed by Al Arabiya.net, states that this new discovery is particularly interesting as these substances can potentially be obtained through a healthy diet, and they are widely available as dietary supplements approved by regulatory bodies as safe.

These findings open the door to the possibility of preventing Alzheimer’s disease and many illnesses associated with brain aging.

According to the Science Alert report, these results are the outcome of a study conducted by researchers at the University of California on the antioxidant "epigallocatechin gallate" and niacinamide, a type of vitamin B3 produced naturally by the body from niacin-rich foods like grains, fish, nuts, legumes, and eggs.

Gregory Brewer, a biomedical engineer, stated: "By enhancing brain energy systems with compounds that are already available as dietary supplements, we may have a new pathway for treating age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease."

In tests on neurons from lab-grown mice, it was found that epigallocatechin gallate and niacinamide enhanced the energy molecule guanosine triphosphate (GTP), which is found in brain cells. GTP provides essential energy for cleaning dead cells, as a deficiency in this compound has previously been linked to the development of Alzheimer’s disease in older brains.

It was shown that neurons enhanced with GTP help the brain eliminate harmful clumps of beta-amyloid proteins, which have long been associated with the development of Alzheimer’s disease. These compounds also reversed age-related damage in brain cells.

The study revealed how GTP levels can decline over time, especially when afflicted by Alzheimer’s, while researchers believe that combining epigallocatechin gallate and niacinamide may restore GTP to levels found in younger cells.

Brewer remarked: "This study highlights GTP as a previously underappreciated energy source, which affects vital brain functions."

Earlier this year, a separate study linked green tea to decreased white matter injuries in the brain, and thus a lower risk of dementia, although the research did not establish a direct causal relationship. Niacinamide has also been shown to be involved in protecting neurons from the effects of stroke and neurodegeneration.

Thanks to this research, scientists concluded that GTP may be part of the reason, and that epigallocatechin gallate and niacinamide together could make a significant difference, but it will take time to translate this into a treatment. It is also worth noting that this has only been tested on mouse cells in the lab, but the results are promising.

Brewer noted: "As people age, their brains show a decline in neural energy levels, limiting their ability to remove unwanted proteins and damaged components." He added: "We found that restoring energy levels helps neurons regain this essential cleaning function."